Railway-switch-operating apparatus.



PATENTED PEB. 20, 1906.

C. J. COLEMAN. RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

GNN QNN PATENTED PEB. 2o, 1906.

C. J. COLEMAN. RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED I'EBA, 1905'. y

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fumi/2560?? @7M/ y "entran erratas Frison annu! -CLYDE J. COLEMAN, OFROOKAWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO SIDNEY ARONSTEIN, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

RAILWAY-SWITGH-OPERATING APPARATUS.

Noy 812,825.

Specification of Letters `Patent. l

Patented Feb. 20, 1 906.

Application filed February 4, 1905. Serial No. 2li-.41,225

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known lthat I, CLYDE J COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rockaway, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switch-Operating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming a partthereof.

My invention relates to railway-switch-operating apparatus and systemsgenerally; and those embodiments of my invention which are illustratedin the accompanying drawings and particularly described hereinafterrelate to apparatus and systems for operating railway-switches at adistance from the controlling operator or from the point of control.

Broadly stated, several obj ects of my invention are reliability ofoperation to insure safety and non-interruption of railway traffic,economy, simplicity, and compactness of construction, and economy andsimplicity of maintenance. 1

My invention comprises various features and various further objects,some of which are l subservient to the broad ends named above, butcapable of more deiiniteexpression, and I will at this point enumerateseveral, but not all, of such features and further objects.

One object of my invention is to operate or control a railway-trackswitch located at a point distant from the operator or point of control.

Another object of my invention is to utilize electrical energy for theactuation or control of railway-track switches, this form of energybeing best adapted for transmission from a source of operating energy toa distant track-switch or switch-actuating mechanism or apparatus; andit is also an object of my in-` vention to convert such'electricalenergy or power into mechanical energy or power characterized byrelatively great mechanical force capable 0f moving a track-switchquickly and with certainty of operation against impeding ice, snow, orother obstruction, and it is an object to attain this relatively greatmechanical force with simple and compact mechanism and preferably withlittle or no forcemultiplying gear mechanism or leverage.

, the electrocaloric motive apparatus and Another object of my inventionis to combine in one electrical circuit the function of apower-transmiting circuit to convey electrical power to* aswitch-operating apparatus and the function of an electriccontrollingcircuit to control the actuation of a trackswitch by such aswitch-operating apparatus.

My invention broadly comprehends caloric motive apparatus adapted toconvert or transmute caloric energy into motive or mechanical energy andarranged to actuate a railway-track switch and in combination therewithan electrocaloric-energy-transmuting apparatus arranged to receiveelectrical energy from any suitable source and ada ted to convert suchelectrical energy into ca oric energy and to deliver the caloric energyto' the caloric motive apparatus to cause the same to operate.

My invention also broadly comprehends the combination of a railway-trackswitch,A i an electrocaloric motive apparatus such as mentioned above inactuative cooperation with the switch, and an electric circuit arrangedboth to supply electrical energy to to control the operation of suchapparatus which actuates the track-switch.

My invention also broadly comprehends ll Huid-pressure motive apparatusarranged to actuate a track-switch by motive expansion of its motivefluid or by an increase orother variation in pressure of such motiveHuid and containing a motive fluid adapted to permit .passage ofelectricity through it-for instance, by conductance as in one of theillustrated embodiments of my inventionand i subject to expansion orincrease or other variation in pressure by such passage ofelectricity-for instance, when the motive fluid is a liquid subject toexpansion by conversion into gaseous form either by caloricvolatilization or by other action. This fluid-pressure switch-actuatingmotive apparatus is combined with any suitable source of electricalenergy or means for passing electricity through its motive fluid toeffect therein the changes of volume or pressure necessary tov actuatethe track-switch, and in one of the illustrated embodiments of myinvention this source of electrical energy is an electric `circuit whichnot only supplies electricity t0 IOO control or vary the Volume orpressure of the motive fluid, but also by such control of fluid volumeor pressure governs or controls actuation of the track-switch by themotive apparatus. v

My invention also broadly comprises electrocaloric fluid-pressure motiveapparatus arranged to actuate a track-switch and including an electricalconductor provided with a receiving-space for motive fluid of the motiveapparatus and adapted to be heated by conductive passage of an electriccircuit and to transmit the heat thus generated'to the motive iiuid, soas to heat the same and effect a motive expansion or pressure variationtherein. As one of the illustrated embodiments of such aheating-conductor my invention broadly comprises a tubular conductorarranged to receive in its tubularvbore the motive fluid of the motiveapparatus, and in one of the illustrated instances the tubular conductoris helical in form.

My invention further comprehends, broadly, the combination of theelectrocaloric fluidpressure switch-actuatingmotive apparatus definedabove with cooling means for absorbing or dissipating the caloric energyof the motive iiuid of the apparatus to permit Yor'assist the'condensation or contraction thereof after its motive expansion, and myinvention broadly comprises an arrangement of's'uch cooling means andthe electrocaloric heating means whereby the motive fluid is alternatelyheated and cooled, and one illustrated embodiment of these features ofmy invention consists in a tubular heating-conductor helical in someinstances and adapted to heat the motive fluid by the caloric energy ofelectrical resistance during passage of current through the conductorand also adapted to absorb and radiate or otherwise dissipate the heatof the motive fluid during cessation of current in suchheating-conductor.

My invention also broadly comprehends electrocaloric fluid pressuremotive apparatus in actuative coperation with a railwaytrack switch andcomprising electrocaloricenergy-transmuting means arranged to supplycaloric energy to the motive fluid of the apparatus, and also comprisinga motive eripansion-chamber operatable by a motive eX- pansion orpressure variation in the motive fluid of the motive apparatus andconsisting of a cylinder or other chamber variable in itsfluid-containing volume or capacity either by movement of afluid-displacing piston or by any suitable construction permitting themotive chamber to actuate the track-switch by the motive expansion orpressure variation of the motive fluid and a controllable reliefpassageleading from the motive chamber and means for maintaining therelief-passage closed during the motive expansion of the motive chamberand my invention also broadly comprehends as one of the illustratedembodiments of the foregoing feature an electricallycontrollable reliefpassage arranged to be maintained in closed condition by electricalenergy from the same source which is employed to supply electricity tothe electrocaloric-energy-transmuting apparatus.

My invention also comprehends various other features, too numerous,however, to be particularly mentioned in the foregoing enumeration, andthese further features will clearly. appear in the light of thefollowing particular description of those embodiments of my inventionwhich I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partially-diagrammatic andpartially-con- Structional view of a railway-switch-operating system andapparatus embodying my invention. It shows diagrammatically theelectrical circuits which are employed to supply working and controllingenergy to the motive apparatus which moves the trackswitch and shows alongitudinal elevation, partially in middle section, of anelectrocaloric fluid-pressure type of such motive apparatus. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the electrocaloric fluid-pressure motive apparatus shown inFig. 1, together with a track-switch and a mechanism for transmittingpower from the switchactuating motive 'apparatus' to the switch. Fig. 3is a longitudinal elevation showing in middle section a fluid-pressuremotive expansion chamber different from those of Fig. 1 and providedwith a different form'of electrocaloric fluid-heating means and adifferent arrangement of the relief-passage, these features constitutingother embodiments of my invention. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevationshowing a motive eXpansion-chamber in middle section and showing inconnection therewith still another form of `electrocaloric fluid-heatingmeans for supplying caloric energy tothe motive fiuid of the motiveapparatus. Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal middle sectional view ofan end of one of the fluid-heating tubes of the construction of Fig. 4,together with one of the insulating-bushings employed to make insulatedconnections between-such heating-tubes and the head of the motivechamber or cylinder with which the tubes have Huid communication` In thesystem and apparatus of Figs. l and 2 the motive or mechanical power foroperating the track-switch is developed in two opposed horizontalsingle-acting fluid-pressure motive cylinders 34 and 34a, mounted inaxial alinement upon a suitable base or bed-plate 4l. Single-actingpistons 36 and 36a coperate with these motive cyllnders, respectively.The pistons are preferably made integrally with each other to constitutea single solid rod, and the pistons enter the IOO ends of theirrespective motive cylinders through tight hydraulic packings 35 and 35,surrounding the pistons and abutting the inner faces of suitablecylinder-caps 37 and 37 u, which are screwed over the ends of thecylinders 34 and 34a, respectively. The cylindercaps are provided withannular leakage-'fluidreceiving chambers or grooves 33 and 33a,respectively,through which the pistons pass and which serve to collectthe motive fluid which leaks through the hydraulic packings. rPheentrance of the pistons into the leakagefluid-receiving grooves is madetight by suitable stuffing-boxes 39 and 39a, respectively, closed bysuitable glands 40 and 40a, respectively, which surround the pistons andare screwed firmly into their respective stuffingboxes.

The electroconductive fluid-heating tubes 14 and 14a, respectively, arebent in helical form about vertical axes and at their lower ends havefluid communication with the motive cylinders 34 and 34a, respectively,and near the head ends thereof. At their' upper ends these heating-tubesare secured in the connecting-lugs 32 and 32"L of thereceivingreservoirs 30 and 30a, and the heatin -tubes communicate, withsuch reservoirs t rough the bores of these connecting-lugs, whichconstitute relief-passages controlled by suitable conicalrelief-controlling valves 26 and 26a, guided at their lower ends in thebores of the lugs 32 and bores formed at the upper or inner ends of thebores of the lugs.

The valves close downwardly, but are normally maintained in their openpositions by means of substantially flat springs'25 and 25a, which spanor bridge the hollow conical bottoms of the reservoirs andare slotted toreceive flattened enlargements 23 and 23a, formed upon the valve-stems22 and 22, which latter are preferably also integral with therelief-controlling valves 26 and 26a. The flat springs support thevalves and their attached parts upon pins 24 and 24a, passingtransversely over the springs and transversely through the flattenedenlargements of their respective valve-stems. The valves are closed inopposition to the resisting bending moments of the springs by themagnetic attraction of iron-clad electromagnets, consisting inelectromagnetic relief-controlling coils or vspools 19 and 19a,contained within cup-shaped iron casings 27 and 27a and at their upperends screwed into central recesses 23 and 23, formed in the non-magneticcover-plates 29 and 29a, suitably secured upon the upper ends of thereservoirs, so as to close and seal the same hermetically. Theattraction of the magnets is exerted upon disk-shaped iron armatures 21and 21a, located in the central recesses 23 and 23L and just above theannular poles of the magnetic casings 27 and 27a. These disk-shaped ar-32a and seating in conical counter-v matures are mounted upon centralintegral stems or grooves 20 and 20a, passing downward through the axesof the electromagnetic coils and at their lower ends suitably connectedwith the upper ends of the valvestems 22 and 22a, which are made ofnonmagnetic material and which pass through central guide-holes in thelower ends of the cup-shaped magnetic casings 27 and 27a. The lower endsof the magnetic cores 20 and 20a terminate just above the bottoms of themagnetic casings, so that a downward magnetic pull is also exerted uponsuch lower ends of the valve-stems by the central magnetic poles of themagnetic casings. One terminal of each of the electromagneticreliefcontrolling coils 19 and 19a is grounded upon its magnetic casing,while the other terminal is connected by a suitable wire 13 or 13a to aninsulated binding post or bolt 17 or 17a, mounted in the cover of itsrespective reservoir and connected with a wire 16 or 16a, leading fromone terminal of the secondary coil 12 or 12a of one ofthe transformers.

Suitable tubes 33 and 33EL are secured in lateral hollow connection-lugs31 and 31a, formed upon the reservoirs near their lower ends, and thesetubes connect the reservoirs with the leakage-iluid-receiving grooves orchambers 33 and 33LL of the respective motive cylinders. Check-valves 31and 31a are interposed in the connecting-tubes 33 and 33a and open inthe direction of passage 'from the leakage-'fluid-receiving grooves orchambers toward their respective receiving-reservoirs 30 and 30a, andthe connecting-tubes 33 and 33a are connected with their respectiveleakage-iuid-receiving grooves through suitable insulating-bushings 33and 33 in order that such connecting-tubesmay not constitute anelectrical short-circuit lacross the terminals of the heating-tubes 14and 14a, respectively.

The secondary coils 12 and 12EL of the two transformers have theiropposite terminals connected with opposite ends of the heatingtubes 14and 14aL by means of suitable connecting-collars, such as 13 15 and 13ZL15a. The grounded terminals of the relief-controlling-magnet coils areconnected through their respective reservoirs with the upper ends of theheating-tubes, and thence are of course connected with giventerminals ofthe secondary coils of the transformers, while the opposite terminals ofthe relief-controllingmagnet coils are connected through theirrespective binding-posts 17 and 17a and their respectiveconnecting-wires 16 and 16*1 with the opposite terminals of theirrespective secondary coils. Thereafter each secondary coil will deliveralternating current to its respective electroconductive heating-tube andto its respective relief-controlling-magnet coil in parallel with eachother.

IOO

IIO

IZO

ISO

The primary coils 11 and 11a ofthe respective transformers are fed withprimary current from an alternating-current generator 2 and throughtransmission line-wires 3 and 4, and thence through respective localbranches leading from the transmission line-wires and separately andalternately closed by the manually or otherwise operatedcontrollingswitch 7, which in its opposite positions close the circuitbranches, including the primary coils of the opposite transformers. Thebranch including the primary coil 11 is traceable from the transmissionline wire 3 through the conductor 5, switch-contact 8, switch-lever 7,switch-contact 9, conductor 10, primary coil 11, and conductor 6 of thetransmission line-wire 4. The branch which includes the primary coill1at is similarly traceable from the transmission line-wire 3 throughthe conductora, switch-contact 8a, switch-lever 7, switch-contact 9a,conductor 10a, primary coil 11a, and conductor 6UL to the transmissionline-wire 4.

The motive cylinders and their heatingtubes are filled with motivefluid, preferably a liquid motive fluid, and in this instance aconductive motive fiuid, Which, as will be hereinafter explained, hascertain advantages over a non-conductive motive fluid. Mercury is theconductive motive fluid which I prefer to employ in this particularembodiment of my invention, and in the present instance the mercury orother motive fluid will not only lill the motive cylinders and theirrespective heating-coils, but will also occupy the reservoirs up to aliquid-level a little above their relief-controlling valves.

When it is desired to actuate or change the position of therailway-track switch 57-for instance, when it is desired to move theswitch from its position indicated in Fig. 2, affording direct passagealong the rails M of the main-line track to its opposite position,giving passage from the main-line track to the rails S of the siding-thecontrolling electric switch 7 will be moved into its righthand position,making conductive contact with its coperating switch-contacts 8a and 9a,whereupon current will flow from the alternating-current generator2along the transmission-line and through the primary coil 11a of theright-hand transformer. Current in this primary coil 11il immediatelygives rise to secondary electromotive force in the complementarysecondary coil 12a of the transformer, which thereupon immediatelytransmits current to and through the relief-controlling magnet 19a incontrol of the motive fluid of the right motive cylinder 34a, so as toimmediately close its relief-controlling valve 26'GL and cut offcommunication between the fluid-reservoir 30aL and its coperatingheating-tube and motive cylinder 14aL and 34, respectively. Current alsoflows simultaneously from the secondary coil 12EL through the conductiveheating-tube 14a and through the mercury contained therein, so as toheat the mercury not only directly by the caloric energy developed orgenerated in overcoming the electrical resistance of the mercury itself,but also by transmission of -heat to the mercury from the heating-tube,which is likewise heated by the caloric energy of electrical resistance.When thus heated, the mercury at first expands in liquid form and thenfurther expands by volatilization or vaporation. Both of such expansionsconstitute a motive expansion of the motive fluid of the apparatus andforce the motive piston 36a forward, so as to move the opposite piston36 farther into its motive cylinder 34, thereby displacing a quantity ofthe motive fluid in such motive cylinder and causing a rise of thefluidlevel in the fluid-reservoir 30 which at the moment is in freecommunication with the motive cylinder 34 through its heating-tube 14and the relief-controlling valve 26. The same movement of the piston 36ais transmitted through a suitable horizontal yoke 42 to two thrust rodsparallel with the piston and leading leftward along opposite sides ofthe motive cylinder 34 and to another yoke 44, similar to the yoke 42,and at its center connected with a reciprocating translating-slide 45,mounted in suitable right and left guides 46 and 48, respectively, andcarrying between such guides a suitable roller 47, mounted upon a pininserted in the upper side of the slide. The stud and roller reciprocateand engage suitable cam-surfaces upon the cam-arms 50 and 51 of acam-lever bellcrank mounted upon a suitable stud 53 and comprising arock-arm 49, pivotally connected with one end of a switch-actuating rodor link 52, which at its opposite end is also' pivotally connected tothe switch-bar 56, joining the movable rails S and M of the switch 57.As the piston 36a thrusts forward or leftward upon the reciprocatingtranslating -slide 45 the cam-actuating roller 47 is brought intocontact with the cam-surface of the cam-arm 50 of the bell-crank 49, soas to swing such bell-crank rightward about its pivotal stud 53 andcause its rock-arm 49 to thrust the switch-actuating rod 52 toward theswitch 57 and toward the switch-bar 56, so as to slide the switch-bartransversely and carry the ends of the movable switch-rails to theiropposite positions. After the track-switch 57 has been reversed thecontrolling electric switch 7 may be moved to its midway ornoncontacting position, whereupon current in the right-hand transformerand its secondary coil 12a will cease, the electroealoric supply of heatto the motive fluid will terminate, and the relief-controlling magnet19a will become IOO IIO

IIS

immediately denergized,so as to permit opening of its relief-controllingvalve 26a retractile spring 25a and by fluid-pressure in theheating-tube 14a. desired to immediately reverse the position by itslShould it now be.

ISO

of the track-switch 57, this may be accomi transformer and toheating-tube and reliefcontrolling magnet of the left motive cylinder34, whereupon the left motive cylinder will immediately force its piston36 rightward, so as to restore the initial position of the right piston86a, while at the same time reversing the position of the track-switch57 by an operation corresponding to its initial actuation and effectedby engagement of the roller 47 with the cam-arm 51.

The comparatively small amount of motive fluid which leaks through thehydraulic packings 35 and 35a is collected in the leakagefluid-receivinggrooves or chambers 38 and 3182L and rises in the connecting-tubes 33and 33a until it passes through the check-valves 81 and 81a into thereceiving-reservoirs 30 and a. Since the receiving-reservoirs will be ofsuch capacity that the fluid-pressures therein will not ordinarily risemuch above normal and since the fluid-pressures in the leakage-receivinggrooves or chambers 38 and 388L cannot rise above such ordinarily lowpressures in their respective receiving-reservoirs, the unrecoveredleakagethrough the outer stufling-boxes 39 and 39a will Igenerally bevery small, and since the check-valves 81 and 81a prevent return offluid from the receiving-reservoirs to the leakage-receivingv grooves,the greatest rate of unrecovered leakage from such receiving-groovesthrough their outer stuffing-boxes can only equal the leakage ratethrough the inner hydraulic packings. y

After cessation of the heating-current in either of the heating tubes orcoils 14 or 14a the heat of the motive fluid is rapidly dissipated byconduction to the tube and by radiation therefrom, whereupon the motivefluid in the tube condenses and contracts, while its consequentreduction in volume is compensated by a return-flow from thereceivingreservoir to the tube. It is possible, and in some instancesdesirable, to dispense with the receiving-reservoirs and operate themotive cylinders without any relief-passages whatever, the condensationor contraction of the motive fluid subsequent to its motive expansionbeing in such cases solely relied upon to permit return movement of themotive piston.

The motive cylinder 59 of Fig. 3 is provided with a receiving-reservoir30', directly connected to the motive cylinder near its head end andcontaining an electrically-controllable relief-controlling valve likethose of Fig. 1. In lieu of the heating-tubes of Fig. 1 the constructionof Fig. 3 employs a solid electrocaloric heating-conductor 62, coiled inhelical form within the motive cylinder and coaxial therewith and withits piston 67. One end 61 of the heating conductor or coil 62 projectsthrough an insulating-bushing inserted centrally in the head of themotive cylinder, while the other end 63 of the heating-coil projectslaterally through the cylindrical wall of the motive cylinder near itsopposite or packing end. Cooling of the motive fluid is effected in thisinstance by radiation from suitable annular radiating flanges or ribsintegrally formed upon the outer cylindrical surface of the motivecylinder. A hydraulic packing 65 is employed to maintain a tight slidingjoint between the piston and cylinder and is retained in place by asuitable retaining cap 66, surrounding the piston and screwed over theopen end of the motive cylinder.

The motive cylinder 68 of Fig. 4 is provided With a receiving-reservoir30-, communicating with the motive cylinder near its head end andincluding an electrically-controllable relief-controlling valve, such asthose of Fig. l. This construction comprises a number ofelectroconductive heating-tubes, such as 69, 70, and 7l disposed inparallelism with one another and with the motive cylinder andcommunicating with the motive cylinder through its cylinder-head, buthermetically sealed at their ends opposite to such connection. Theconnections between the cylinder-head and the open ends of the heatingtubes are made with insulating bushings, such as 76, which surround theends of the tubes and make a tight fluid-joint between such tube endsand the cylinder-head, while effectually insulating the tubes from thecylinder-head and from each other. The heating-tubes are electricallyconnected in series with one anotherby means of suitable conductiveconnecting-yokes, such as 7 3 and 74, braZed or otherwise fixed upon theends of the tubes, and the series of tubes is connected with a suitablesource of heating-current through suitable connecting-collars, such as72 and 75, xed upon the ends of the terminal tubes of the series.

It will be apparent that those embodiments of the fluid-pressure form ofmy invention which comprise an electroconductive heating-conductordistinct from or in addition to the motive fluid itself may be made tooperate with an electrically-non-conductive motive fluid, which may beheated by the electric heating-conductor. For instance, as amodification a non-conductive oil or other nonconductive fluid may beemployed in lieu of the mercury in the switch-actuating motive apparatusof Figs. 1 and 2, in which case the non-conductive'motive fluid will beheated, expanded, and in some instances volatilized by the heatelectrically developed in the electric heating-conductor. As anothermodification I may employ a mixture of fluids, such as a mixture ofglycerin and al- IOC 1,., i tive chamber ber as a whole.

cohol, consisting,for instance, of two-thirds of glycerin and one-thirdof alcoholA This combination will make a saponaceous orpartially-viscous mixture which will retain in suspension or in the formof a fine emulsion the small particles or quantities of alcohol vaporwhich will be'generated when the temperature of the mixture issufficiently raised by the electrocaloric heating means of my invention,so that in this instance the mixture will have the full expansive effectof volatilization or vaporization, while being at the same timesubstantially.maintained as a homogeneous mixture, wherein the vapor isnot considerably separated from the liquid. The maintenance of the vaporin this finelydivided state in admixture with the liquid motive'fluid isadvantageous in that it keeps each small particle of vapor in effectualheatconductive connection with the electric heating-.vapor through theintermediation of the liquid as a heat -conductive medium, thuspermitting the small particles of vapor to be both heated and cooledmore quickly than could be effected if they were united in one integralmass of vapor separate from the liquid.v

It will be apparent that any one of the motive cylinders of theillustrated apparatus and itscOperating movable piston togetherconstitute a completely inclosed motive chamber, the motive cylindercomprising the side walls and one end wall of the motive chamberconsidered as a whole, while the movable piston constitutes a closure orend wall at the opposite end of the motive chamber. Thus by correlationof the motive cylinder and its motive piston is formed a mowhich isexpansible by pressure of motive fluid therein-that is to say, a motivechamber having an expansible or variable liuid-containing volume andcomprising elements movable relative to one another by pressure ofmotive fluid to effect such expansion or volume variation of the motivecham- It will be apparent that my broad invention and the variousfeatures thereof' may be embodied. in various forms of structure andarrangement and in various modifications of the forms which I haveparticularly illustrated' and described, all such embodiments coming,however, within the spirit, scope, and principles of my broad invention.y

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ish

1.. The combination of a railway track switch, caloric -motive apparatusin actuative coperation therewith, and electrocaloric energy transmutingapparatus arranged to supply caloric energy to the caloric motiveapparatus.

2'. The vcombination of a railwaytrack switch and electrocaloricHuid-pressure motive apparatus in actuative cooperation with I theswitch and including electrocaloricenergy-transmuting means arranged toheat the motive iuid of the motive apparatus.

3. The combination of a railway-track switch and electrocaloric motiveapparatus in actuative cooperation with the switch and including anelectric conductor adapted to be heated by electric current and tothereby develop caloric energy for operating the caloric motiveapparatus.

4. Railway-track-switching means comprising, in combination, atrack-switch, caloric fluid-pressure motive apparatus in actuativecooperation therewith, and an electric conductor arranged to be heatedby electric current and to supply heat to the motive fluid of the motiveapparatus.

5. The combination, with a railway-track switch, of electrocaloricfluid-pressure motive apparatus arranged to actuate the switch andcomprising an electrical conductor provided with a receiving-space forthe motive fluid of the motive apparatus and adapted to be heated byelectric current and to transmit heat to the motive Huid.

6. The combination, with a switch, of caloric fluid-pressure motiveapparatus arranged to operate the switch, and a tubular electricalconductor adapted to receive the motive fluid of the motive apparatusand to transmit to such motive Huid the heat generated in the tubularconductor by flow of electricity therein.

7. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising fluid-pressure motiveapparatus in actuative cooperation with a track-switch and including anexpansible motive chamber and a tubular electric conductor in uidcommunication with the motive chamber and arranged to receive motivefluid and to heat and expand the same by caloric energy generated bypassage of an electric current in the tubular conductor.

8. Railway-switch-operating means comprising caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus in actuative control of a track-switch and including amotive chamber expansible by pressure of motive fluid and provided witha relief-passage, electrocaloric-energy-transmuting means arranged toheat and expand the motive Huid of the motive apparatus so as to effecta motive expansion of the motive chamber, and means for opening thereliefpassage from such motive chamber after occurrence of its motiveexpansion.

9. Railway-switch-operating means comrailway-track i IOO IIO

prising caloric fluid-pressure motive apparatus in actuative cooperationwith a railway-track switch and including a motive chamber expansible bypressure of motive fluid and a relief-passage for such motive chamber,electrocaloric energy-transmuting means arranged to supply caloricenergy for effecting a motive expansion of the motive fluid and of themotive chamber, and means for maintaining closure of the relief-passageuring a given motive expansion of the cham- 10. Railway-switch-operatingmeans comprising caloric fluid-pressure motive apparatus in actuativecooperation with a railwaytrack switch and including a motive chamberexp ansible by pressure of motive fluid and provided with a relief-passage ,electrocaloric heating means arranged to heat the motive Huid ofthe motive apparatus so as to expand such motive fluid and therebyeffect a motive expansion of the motive chamber, and means formaintaining the relief-passage in closed condition during the motiveexpansion of the chamber and for opening such relief-passage after suchmotive expansion.

11. Railway-switch-operating means comprising fluid-pressure motiveapparatus including a fluid-pressure motive chamber expansible bypressure of the motive fluid of the motive apparatus and arranged inactuatiye cooperation with a track-switch and such motive ap aratusincluding also an electrically-control able relief-passage incommunication with the motive chamber, electrothermal heating meansarranged to heat and expand the motive uid of the motive apparatus andthereby effect a motive expansion of the motive chamber, and a commonsource of electricity arranged to supply electrical energy both for theelectrothermal heating means and for control of theelectrically-controllable relief-passage.

12. Railway-switch-operating means comprising caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus including a motive expansion-chamber operatable bypressure of the motive fluid of the motive apparatus and arranged inactuative control of a track-switch, in combination with anelectrically-controllable relief-passage communicating with the motivechamber, a relief-controlling electric circuit for the relief-passageand arranged to maintain closure of such relief-passage by flow ofcurrent in such relief-controlling circuit, electrothermalheat-producing means arranged to heat and expand the motive fluid andthereby actuate the motive chamber and operate the track-switch, and acommon source of electricity arranged to supply electric currentsimultaneously to the electrothermal heating means and to therelief-controlling circuit.

13. A railway-switch-controlling system including, in combination, arailwaytrack switch, caloric motive apparatus in actuative coperationwith the track-switch, and an electric circuit in controlling relationto the caloric motive apparatus.

14. A railway-switch-controlling system comprising a railway-trackswitch, caloric motive apparatus in actuative cooperation therewith,electrocaloric-energy-transmuting means arranged to supply caloricenergy to the caloric motive apparatus, and an electric circuit arrangedboth to supply electrical energy for theelectrocaloric-energy-transmuting means and to control actuation of thetrack-switch by the caloric motive apparatus.

15. A railway-switch-controlling system comprising a railway-trackswitch, caloric fluid-pressure motive apparatus in actuatiye cooperationwith the track-switch, electrocaloric heating means arranged to heat themotive fluid of the fluid-pressure motive apparatus, and an electriccircuit arranged to supply electrical energy to the electrocaloricheating means and also arranged to control actuation of the track-switchby the caloric fluid-pressure motive apparatus.

16. Railway-switch-operating means comprising a fluid-pressure motivechamber expansible by pressure of motive fluid and arranged to actuate-atrack-switch by its motive expansion, an electrically-conductivefluid-heating tube having fluid communication with the motive chamberand adapted to expand the motive fluid by heat of an electric current soas to effect a motiveexpansion of the motive chamber, a Huid-reliefpassage leading from the heating-tube, and means for maintaining closureof the relief-passage duribng the motive expansion of the motive cham-17. Railway-switch-operating means comprising fluid-pressure motiveapparatus including a motive chamber expansible by pressure of motivefluid and arranged to actuate a track-switch by its motive expansion andsuch motive apparatus including also a reser- Voir and a relief-passageleading from the motive chamber to the reservoir,electrocaloricenergy-transmuting means arranged to supply caloric energyto the motive fluid of the fluid-pressure motive apparatus to effectmotive expansion of its motive chamber7 and means for maintainingclosure of the reliefpassage during such motive expansion of the motivechamber.

18. Railway-switch-operating means including a fluid-pressure motiveexpansionchamber, a leakage-iluid-receiving chamber7 apower-transmitting rod passing through the leakage-fluid-receivingchamber and into the motive expansion-chamber, a tight sliding jointthrough which the rod enters the leakage-fluid-receiving chamber, asecond tight sliding joint through which the rod passes from theleakage-fluid-receiving chamber into the motive expansion-chamber, aconduit connecting the lealrage-uid-receiving chamber with areceiving-reservoir, a relief-passage affording fluid communicationbetween the motive expansion-chamber and the reservoir, means forincreasing. the pressure of the motive fluid in the motiveexpansion-chamber whereby to move the powertransmitting rod, means formaintaining closure of the relief-passage during such moye- ICO ment ofthe rod, and means for transmitting the movement of thepower-transmitting rod to a track-switch.

19. Railway-switch-operating means comprising fluid-pressure motiveapparatus in actuative connection with a railwaytrack switch andincluding a fluid-pressure motive expansion chamber arranged to move thetrack-switch byits motive expansion, an electroconductive fluid-heatingtube in fiuid communication with the motive expansion-chamber, afluid-reservoir, a controllable relief-passage affording controllablefluid communication between the electroconductive fluid-heating tube andthe relief-reservoir, means for passing an electric current through theelectroconductive fluid-heating tube whereby to heat the tube and themotive fluid contained therein and effect a motive expansion of suchfluid and of the motive chamber, and means for maintaining closure ofthe relief-passage during the motive expansion of the motive chamber.

20. Railway-switch-operating means comprising fluid-pressure motiveapparatus in actuative connection with a railway-track switch andincluding, in a closed motive-fluidcontaining system, a fluid-pressuremotive expansion-chamber arranged to move the trackswitch by its motiveexpansion, an electroconductive fluid-heating tube in fluidcommunication with the motive expansion-chamber, a fluid-reservoirpermanently closed against communication with the outer atmosphere, acontrollable relief-passage affording controllable fluid communicationbetween the electroconductive fluid-heating tube and the closedrelief-reservoir, means for passing an electric current through theelectroconductive fluid-heating tube whereby to heat the tube and themotive fluid contained therein and effect a motive expansion of suchfluid and of the motive chamber, and means for maintaining closure ofthe relief-passage during the motive expansion of the motive chamber.

21. Railway-switch-operating means comprising caloric fiuid-pressuremotive apparatus in actuative connection with a trackswitch andincluding a motive expansionchamber operatable by pressure of the motivefluid of the apparatus to actuate the track-switch, and a tubularelectric conductor of helical form in fluid communication with themotive expansion chamber and v adapted to be heated by an electriccurrent and to heat and expand the motive fluid of the motive apparatusso as to effect a motive expansion of the motive chamber and thusactuate the track-switch.

22. Railway-switch-operating means comprising a fluid pressure motiveexpansionchamber, means for transmitting the power of a motive expansionof the motive chamber to a track-switch, an electroconductive fluidiheating tube of helical form in fluid communication with the motivechamber and adapted to be heated by electric current and to heat themotive fluid of the motive apparatus and effect a motive expansion ofsuch fluid and of the motivechamber, a controllable relief-passageleading from the heatingtube, and means for maintaining closure of thereliefpassage during the motive expansion of the motive chamber.

23. Railway-switching means comprising a railway-track switch, caloricfluid-pressure motive apparatus arranged in actuative relation theretoand including a motive-fluidcontaining system closed fromcommunicacaloric-energy-transmuting means arranged to supply caloricenergy to the motive fluid of the caloric fluid-pressure motiveapparatus.

24. Railway-switch-operating means comprising switch-actuating motiveIapparatus operatable by caloric energy and including anelectrical'heating-conductor adapted to be heated by electric currentand to supply the caloric energy for operating the motive apparatus, incombination with a transformer arranged to deliver its secondary currentto the heating-conductor, and a current-transmitting circuit arranged todeliver primary current to the transformer.

25. Railway-switch-operating means .comprising caloric Huid-pressuremotive apparatus in actuative connection with a trackswitch andincluding a motive chamber expansible by pressure of the motive fluid ofthe motive apparatus and arranged to move the track-switch in onedirection by its motive expansion, electrocaloric heating means arrangedto heat the motive Iiiuid of the motive apparatus so as to increase itspressure and effect amotive expansion of the motive chamber, and meansfor returning the motive chamber and the track-switch to initialcondition andl position after the motive expansion of the motivechamber.

26. Railway-switch-operating means comprising caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus in actuative connection with a trackswitch andincluding two motive expansionchambers arranged to move the track-switchinto opposite positions by their respective motive expansions and eachmotive chamber being also arranged to restore the other motive chamberto its normal or unexpanded condition, and the caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus also including separate motiVe-fiuid-containing systemsfor the motive fluids of the separate motive expansionchambers, andmeans for independently heating and expanding the motive fluids of theindependent containing systems.

27. Railway-switch-operating means comprising caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus in actuative connection with a trackswitch andincluding two motive expansiontion with the outer atmosphere, andelectro-` IOO IIS

chambers arranged to move the track-switch into opposite positions bytheir respective motive expansions and each motive chamber being alsoarranged to restore the other 'motive chamber to its normal orunexpanded condition, and the caloric fluid-pressure motive apparatusalso including separate motive-fluid-containing systems for the motivefluids of the separate motive expansionchambers, and independentelectrocaloricenergy transmuters arranged to heat and eX- pand themotive fluids of the independent motive-iluid-containing systems.

28. RailWay-sWitch-operating means comprising caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus arranged to actuate a track-switch by motive expansionof the motive fluid of the motive apparatus, electrocaloricenergytransmuting means arranged to supply caloric energy to the motivefluid to effect motive expansion of the same, and cooling means arrangedto dissipate the caloric energy of the motive fluid.

29. RailWay-sWitch-operating means comprising caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus arranged to actuate a track-switch by motive expansionof its motive fluid, an electrocaloric-energy transmuter, and coolingmeans, the electrocaloric-energy transmuter and the cooling means beingarranged to alternately supply and dissipate caloric energy to and fromthe motive fluid of the motive apparatus to effect motive expansion ofthe motive fluid and to permit a contraction of such motive fluidbetween successive motive eX- pansions thereof.

30. RailWay-sWitch-operating means comprising caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus arranged to actuate a track-switch by motive expansionof its motive fluid and including an electric heating-conductor providedWith a motive-fluid-receiving space arranged to contain motive fluid ofthe motive 'apparatus and such conductor being adapted to heat themotive fluid by caloric energy of an electric current flowing throughthe conductor and also to cool the motive fluid by absorption of heattherefrom.

31. RailWay-sWitch-operating means comprising caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus arranged to actuate a track-switch by motive expansionof its motive fluid ,and having a motive-luid-containing systemincluding a tubular electric conductor arranged to be heated and to heatthe motive fluid by passage of an electric current whereby to effectmotive expansion of the motive fluid and also arranged to absorb anddissipate heat of the motive Huid so as to permit a contraction thereofsubsequent to its motive expansion.

32. RailWay-sWitch-operating means com` prising caloric fluid-pressuremotive apparatus in actuative cooperation With a tracksWitch andincluding a motive expansionchamber arranged to actuate the trackswitchby motive expansion of the motive i fluid of the apparatus, and ahelical electroconductive tube in fluid communication with the motivechamber and arranged to contain motive fluid and to heat and expand thesame by caloric energy of an electric current passing through suchelectroconductive tube, and such tube being also arranged to absorb anddissipate the heat of the motive fluid.

33. RailWay-sWitch-operating means comprising caloric-fluid-pressuremotive apparatus arranged to .move a track-switch into a given positionby motive expansion of the motive fluid of the apparatus,electrocaloricenergy-transmuting means arranged 'to supply caloricenergy to the motive fluid of the caloric fluid-pressure motiveapparatus, an electric circuit arranged to supply electrical energy tothe electrocaloric-energy-transmuting means and also arranged to controlactuation of the track-switch by the motive apparatus, a second caloricfluid-pressure mosWitch into another position by motive eX- pansion ofthe motive fluid of such second motive apparatus, a secondelectrocaloric-energy-transmuting means arranged to supply caloricenergy to the motive fluid of the second motive apparatus, and a secondelectric circuit arranged to supply electrical energy to the secondelectrocaloric-energy-transmuting means and also arranged to controlactuation of the track-switch by the second. motive apparatus.

34. RailWay-sWitch-operating means comprising switch-actuating caloricmotive apparatus, electrocaloric energy transmuting means arranged tosupply caloric energy to the caloric motive apparatus, anelectric-current transformer'arranged to deliver its secondary currentto the electrocaloric-energytransmuting means, and an electrictransmission-circuit arranged to deliver primary current to thetransformer.

35. Railway-switch-operating means comprising fluid-pressure motiveapparatus arranged to actuate a track-switch by motive expansion of itsmotive iluid and including electroconductive motive fluid eXpansible bypassage of an electric current through it, and means for conductingelectricity through the motive fluid of the motive apparatus so as toeffect a motive expansion thereof.

36. RailWay-sWitch-operating means comranged to actuate a track-switchby pressure variation in its motive fluid and including a liquid motivefluid adapted for vconversion into gaseous form by passage ofelectricity through such liquid, and means for passing electricitythrough the liquid so as toconvert the same to gaseous form and therebyvary its pressure to actuate the track-switch.

37. RailWay-svvitch-operating means comprising fluid-pressure motiveapparatus arprising iluid-pressuremotive apparatus artive apparatusarranged to move the track- IOO IIO

ranged to aetuate a track-switch by motive expansion of its motive fluidand including a motive fluid expansible by` passage of eleotrieitythrough it, and means for passing electricity through the motive fluidof the motive apparatus to effect a motive expansion thereof and actuatethe track-switch.

In testimony whereof I have aHiXed my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

CLYDE J COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

HENRY D. WILLIAMS, HENRY BARNES.

